Staying healthy is important and when you can’t pinpoint exactly what's making you feel unwell, it can be frustrating. Such is the case of around 1,000, mostly American, sufferers of what is known as Havana Syndrome. The illness is believed to have originated out of the Cuban capital and since then, many theories about the cause have sprung forth. It’s a mysterious trend that, for now, remains a strange episode in the lives of those staying in the City of Columns. Though some theorize that it was an attack from rival nations, there has been no evidence of a direct link. By now multiple parties, including American sources, have denied such possibilities. What we do know, however, is that the illness continues to put a wrinkle in relations, but it’s also not simply exclusive to the largest island country in the Caribbean sea. Related: What Are the 23 Illnesses Covered Under the PACT Act?

What Is Havana Syndrome?

It’s hard to fully define what Havana Syndrome is, but what we do know is that several officials and military personnel from the United States have felt ranging pain and ringing within their ears along with issues involving thinking, memory, and other issues surrounding cognition. It all began in 2016, after reports of both American and Canadian embassy staff in Havana, Cuba, coming down with symptoms. A year later, the claims grew and expanded into other countries including China, India, Europe, and even Washington D.C. Even though the validity of Havana Syndrome is still in question, sufferers have experienced issues ranging in duration from seconds to half an hour, and that involved different sorts of feelings, pressures, and vibrations in their ears. Many reports come from homes or hotels in which others were in close proximity to those suffering from symptoms. However, furthering skepticism and fueling conspiracies is that others in the surrounding area reported no such feelings. A key player in U.S. intelligence, Dr. Paul Andrews, the CIA doctor hit with Havana Syndrome, experienced symptoms as well. The mystery of the Havana Syndrome, however, may have finally been solved in 2023. Well, at least partly. Although the Central Intelligence Agency has publicly denounced the events as attacks, there seem to be conflicting views as new evidence suggests no intentional attacks took place.

New Data Points Away From Foreign Involvement

Various departments of the U.S. government have claimed that Havana Syndrome is actually an "Anomalous Health Incident" (AHI). Some have called the events attacks perpetrated by foreign governments using microwave technology, but U.S. intelligence isn’t so sure. Russia, China, and Cuba have all been called into question as potential perpetrators, and before recently, there was a lot of speculation as to what they may have been doing to cause these symptoms. Now, after looking at 1,000 cases, foreign interference was ruled out in 976 of these cases by the CIA. Furthermore, U.S. Intelligence ruled out the likelihood that Havana Syndrome symptoms came from foreign adversaries through a weapon or other device. Suggested Read: How Vets Can Mitigate the Risks of Cancer Related to Military Service “I can share with you that most IC agencies have now concluded that it is ‘very unlikely’ a foreign adversary is responsible for the reported AHIs. IC agencies have varying confidence levels because we still have gaps given the challenges collecting on foreign adversaries…as we do on many issues involving them,” said Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence. To say that this is a definitive end to things is not quite responsible. While multiple agencies working on these findings, it’s still a wonder what the mysterious illness is that so many are experiencing. Furthermore, as cases spread to 96 different counties, it challenge of identifying a cause only grows. There is no one explanation for these incidents. Instead, there are many different possible causes including environmental as well as social factors and preexisting medical conditions, officials point out. The assessment is likely to lead to further frustration among those impacted who have chastised the U.S. government for not taking the condition seriously enough or slow-rolling the investigation. “I want to be absolutely clear: these findings do not call into question the experiences and real health issues that US Government personnel and their family members, including CIA’s own officers, have reported while serving our country,” said CIA Director Bill Burns. So, while unlikely a rival or enemy government, the search continues to pinpoint what the definitive answer is. Aliens? Terrorism? A false flag CIA Havana Syndrome attack from the agency itself? The legitimate theories and conspiracy theories are endless. Until a root cause is finally identified, it’s important to understand how to test for the condition.

How to Test for Havana Syndrome

The bad news is that while there is no definitive test for the illness, if you’ve traveled to Cuba or elsewhere and believe you may have it, a standardized battery of questions and medical tests may be available through a healthcare provider to better treat you. Those who experience Havana Syndrome symptoms face the potential for a wide range of issues, including loud sudden noises, earaches, tinnitus, head pressure, cognitive issues, problems seeing, vertigo, and nausea. All of these issues can manifest in varying degrees of both intensity and length of experience. Whatever is going on with Havana Syndrome, hopefully, healthcare professionals remain vigilant and capable of overcoming such discomfort for those who suffer as a result of the sickness. Read Next: Exercise as Medicine May Be a Simple Solution for Vets